The FCC guides them. Cable outlets have more freedom and they do amazing work. I'm glad to see people taking the initiative and realizing they have this big box out there to make whatever they want and have the freedom to do so.

The jezebel piece speaks to a time when I wasn't there so I can't speak to that. But, you don't remember correctly that TDS was like Weekend Update. It wasn't. We had tons of field pieces and the commentary was definitely taking on the media at the time. The media at the time was non-news, fear based magazine shows, Ted Baxter-y, perky newscasters and celebrity scandals and disappearing blondes. That was the news at the time and we satirized what we were given.

yes there is a comedy show and documentary in the works that uses all kinds of funny women who aren't funny. To answer your second question - yes, people underestimate long winters and storytelling as a breeding ground for humor. There are a lot of funny, cold people.

I would say that during my time at The Daily Show, more than a specific story that brought a national issue to a forefront, I think during my time there we brought the conversation about how redonkulous the actual media is... by showing up next to them at big events and having people not tell the difference between the comedy show and the news outlet.

A. Read my book, Lizz Free or Die . It explains a lot.
B. It was a financial shit show. Remember, Marc Maron is a huge star. Rachel Maddow is a huge star. Al Franken is a Senator. I'd say thats a lot of good coming out of Air America.

I originally envisioned the Daily Show to take on the conventions of the Media and the Media makers. The Media when I started is different than the Media is now. The show has followed these different iterations of the Media as it has changed. So technically, yes, it is exactly as I envisioned it to be.

Thanks! I can't take credit for creating A is For. It's brain child is Martha Plimpton. She gathered some of her most passionate pro-rights friends to create an advocacy group that works on taking the shame out of fighting for reproductive rights for women. The A symbolizes the Scarlet A, taking back the shame and replacing it with empowerment.

I would say, the Pope, any incarnation of the Catholic Church. My mom. Really it was less inspiration and more me on this journey to find this place to be heard, and it ended up being on stage at a comedy club.

Brian Unger and I had to convince a network executive that it was racist to have 3 white women put a chain on an African American man during spring break in Texas and walk him down the beach. I quit that project. You can read all about it in Lizz Free or Die